Bullying is all around us. It not only exists in the school or playgrounds, it has also become quite prevalent in the workplace. Whenever someone becomes a victim of bullying, the affected individual’s life changes. He or she can become subdued, afraid and highly stressed out.
Many companies and organizations have launched various programs to help address and prevent bullying. Part of the program may include conducting anti bullying sessions, establishing policies that would cover such behaviors and scenarios, as well as a setting up avenues and opportunities to encourage victims in speaking up. A few institutions would also create communication programs or campaigns aimed to increase awareness about bullying issues.
One such example was a poster making contest conducted by four institutions that was launched earlier this year. These institutions are the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU), National APIA Panhellenic Association (NAPA), and OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates. The four asked everyone, from aspiring teen artists to victims of bullying, to create a poster that would best display their experience and understanding of bullying and its prevention.
The contest ran until May this year and a winner was already identified by the four institutions. Aside from winning a gift card reward and a free trip to Washington, D.C. to attend an event, the winner’s original artwork also became the face of the 2015 “Friends Do Make A Difference” campaign.
The contest was an admirable way to invite teens and bullying victims to share their experience, as well as express their pain and hopes in an artistic way. To learn more about the contest’s details and a short description about the campaign, click here. To check out the contest winners’ artwork, click here.